Selected from 84 applications received by the secretariat of the Hassan II World Water Prize, the FAO received a check worth 500,000 US dollars during the opening ceremony of the 10th edition of the World Water Forum, which is taking place until May 25 at the Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, for its commitment to “water resource security for food sovereignty and shared prosperity.”
In a speech, Mr. Akhannouch stated that the Hassan II World Water Prize pays tribute to the late HM Hassan II for the actions of the deceased Sovereign in the field of water policy and sustainable development, particularly through the construction of dams and irrigation networks.
This prize also honors HM King Mohammed VI, who has launched an ambitious program worth 14 billion dollars dedicated to water sustainability, aiming to continue the construction of water dams, the transfer of water from basin to basin, and the construction of several seawater desalination units in major Moroccan cities such as Casablanca, Agadir, and Tangier, added the Head of Government.
Established in March 2002, the Hassan II World Water Prize is a joint initiative of the World Water Council and the Kingdom of Morocco, in memory of the late His Majesty Hassan II and in tribute to the efforts that the deceased Sovereign made to develop international cooperation and solidarity for the sustainable management and preservation of water resources.
The Hassan II World Water Prize is awarded every three years on the occasion of each edition of the Forum in recognition of the initiators of projects that have made significant contributions in the fields of development and use of water resources, at both scientific and economic, technical, environmental, social, institutional, cultural, or political levels.
The FAO, an intergovernmental organization of the United Nations, was established in 1945 in Quebec and has been headquartered in Rome since 1951, received the 8th edition of this prestigious award in recognition of its commitment to the global water and food security agenda, according to a statement from the Ministry of Equipment and Water.
The FAO was also awarded for its efforts to improve water availability for agricultural production and to achieve food security and improve incomes, and in tribute to all the initiatives and projects it has implemented on the ground, the statement adds.
Furthermore, this organization was recognized for its important role in the technical, political, and strategic support it provides to many countries around the world, in the face of challenges related to water and food security.
The opening ceremony of the 10th World Water Forum was marked by the screening of an institutional film on the Kingdom of Morocco’s water resource management policy, thanks to the wise policy of the late HM Hassan II and HM King Mohammed VI.
Mr. Akhannouch, accompanied by Mr. Baraka, heads the official Moroccan delegation participating in the 10th edition of the World Water Forum, which is held under the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity.”
The Moroccan delegation participating in this Forum is composed of senior officials from the relevant ministerial sectors, as well as institutional partners and actors and experts from the water sector.
With MAP